Golf Blog: Ian Poulter's Open Charge

Nicholas Gamble takes a look at the closing of the Open in this golf blog, with a highlight on Ian Poulter's performance

Ian Poulter

With the Open done and dusted, I'm happy to say that Muirfield did not disappoint.

Not just because it made me look like I know what I am talking about sometimes, but also because its stern test brought out the best in some of the world's best players, and a couple of them were English.

Lee Westwood looked as though he might finally break his major duck, but sadly it wasn't to be.

However, this isn't going to an autopsy of his disappointing final round, because another home favourite did bring his best golf on Sunday, Ian Poulter.

The 37 year old Hertfordshire man's 67 was nothing short of brilliant.

He took it to a course that was beating back the majority of the field all day, showing an aggressive focus that has previously only been reserved for the Ryder Cup.

In Matchplay Poulter's putter becomes red hot, he gets fired up by the crowd and he strings birdies together at will, all features of his final round charge at the Open.

His tied 3rd place finish seemingly the result of finally being able to harness that killer instinct that has made Poulter a Ryder Cup hero.

He himself even acknowledged this difference in his game on Sunday saying;

"They were going in the middle like they were in Medinah," and that "The fans out today were giving me a lot of electricity and pumping me up."

It was certainly another brilliant Open, with a very popular winner.

But it was also a reminder to world golf that Poulter has another level to his game and that maybe, he is beginning to find a way to bring it to the course every week.

A worrying thought for the rest of the field.

Freelance Writer

Nick was a freelance writer for Golf Monthly from 2012 to 2014.